JOHN HULSE was sickened by the late equaliser from ex-Rhyl midfielder Ross Stephens which cost his team two crucial points at Belle Vue.

Rhyl had dominated a game they led through Andy Moran’s 67th-minute goal, but a controversial 88th-minute free-kick from Welshpool’s Stephens meant the Belle Vue side lost vital ground in the Welsh Premier title race.

"We didn’t think it was a free-kick," said Rhyl manager Hulse.

"Craig Jones got caught in possession when he should have cleared the ball, but we felt giving a foul against him was very harsh.

"It was Welshpool’s only serious shot on goal and it cost us two vital points.

"It’s a game we should have long had won as Welshpool are a compact, good honest side, but we’d been better than them throughout."

Defences were very much on top until Rhyl posed the first serious threat in the 38th minute.

Jones’ shot was clearly handled by George Hughes on the deck, but play continued and a grounded Lee Hunt smacked the crossbar with a left-foot effort.

Hunt’s header from a Paul O’Neill cross was comfortably held by former Rhyl keeper Ged McGuigan, then George Horan looked set to score but a last-ditch challenge from Paul Dowdridge was sufficient to put him off.

And just before the interval, O’Neill set up Jones whose well struck volley was tipped past the post by McGuigan.

Chances were at a premium again after the break, but ‘Pool’s Chris Venables was not too far away with a speculative chip which had home custodian Lee Kendall back-pedalling.

Rhyl then began to get on top and Moran’s excellent cross to the back post picked out Jones whose header was off target.

The deadlock finally ended on 67 minutes when Carl Ruffer’s free-kick was headed on by Horan and striker Moran volleyed in from close range.

Moran almost added a second when he drove across the six-yard box, and Rhyl were looking comfortable until Pool grabbed that late equaliser.

Jones was caught dithering and committed the foul on Brett Jeffries which led to the free-kick 20 yards out which Stephens drilled beyond Kendall.